Black, all around.
The vision was gone, replaced by total darkness.
Then… A harmony of voices.
Deep and powerful. Ancient.
“The chosen has ceased to move.”
“The Blood is only a path.”
“Awaken them all again.”
“Dominion leads to stagnation.”
“Stagnation to Destruction.”
“A World must be balanced.”
“Cosmos must move.”
“Balance.”
“Creation.”
“Lead to change.”
“Obliterate Dominion. Let the worlds awaken again.”
#
“Peeeter?”
Ugggh. My head.
A small finger stabbed into my cheek, its owner calling out again. “Peter?”
“Maybe he’s dead?” Synthia suggested coldly.
The finger stayed where it was as Mei responded. “His chest is moving. He’s alive… Should we get dad?”
“Ughhh,” I groaned audibly this time, causing the jabbing hand to halt its assault on my body. “What is…” I took a breath feeling the pounding ache that resonated through my mind. “With people on this planet and poking people?”
My eyes barely fluttered open to be met with Mei’s concerned and slightly amused face.
“You’re ok?” she asked softly, gently reaching out another finger.
“Don’t,” I warned her, causing her to finally yield. I sat up, rubbing my head, trying to ease the pain that flared through it.
That was a lot of screaming and sleep you asked us to ignore, Luna commented as I steadied myself.
I shuddered slightly at the mental intrusion, sending another fresh wave of buzz through my ears.
That wasn’t exactly the normal transformation, I cleared up.
So… she trailed off, What did you get this time?
I looked at the two girls before me before answering Luna, glancing briefly at my own body before saying: “Do I look any different to you?”
“Like dad when he drinks,” Mei answered, brutally honest.
But he was a handsome man, I don’t think I could imagine him looking bad from a hangover, so… It’s definitely a compliment.
Still, not really what I was looking for.
“Give me one sec,” I request, closing my eyes to observe my Inner Realm. Of course, I had felt my blood burning, purifying, but it wasn’t really like I could see it in this space. Before it was only from the pain that it became so clear.
While proceeding with purification, I couldn’t pinpoint that as the epicenter of the process with Fire Force because… Well, blood was kinda everywhere. Unfortunately, even now, nothing seemed any different.
But I knew better than to give up. After all, there was precedent. Natural and Water Force gave a major transformation. This couldn’t be an exception, and there was one more place to check. My Inner World.
But… I didn’t want to leave the others standing around waiting for me. There would be time to investigate this more thoroughly, and thinking about it, often, I stumble across discoveries through interaction with others rather than searching.
So, I opened my eyes.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“Why were you laying down out here?” Mei questioned, grabbing my arm and trying to haul me up. Which she could do with her strength. Still, I decided to not resist, standing with her help.
I took a look around, letting the morning light warm up my face, before answering. “Crossed a barrier in my training. It made me pass out, but I’m fine.”
She nodded, satisfied with the answer, leading me back to her home with a small tug—Synthia following on her other side.
“Dad told me the good news,” Mei beamed as we stepped up. “We’re going on a short trip to your home.”
I glanced at Synthia, trying to read her reaction, but when she caught my gaze, only a quiet smile returned.
“Yeah?” I said as we walked through the halls which were starting to grow more familiar. “Did he tell you what the plan was?”
She nodded with excited fervor as she opened the door to the dining area from the night before. “Today we can play around. Then we head off.”
She and I sat down next to each other as she continued to excitedly chatter.
“And he told me about the rematch. I’ll make sure to go all out this time,” she said, her tone light but anticipation laced deep within.
Before I could respond, the sound of multiple pairs of heavy footsteps came from outside, echoing down the hall. The door slid open as the three of us waited and Griffith strode in followed by Rojin, and Sei.
The room immediately filled with half finished conversation.
“Only under the moonlight?” Griffith inquired, his eyes glazed with interest.
The question was aimed at Rojin who wore an expression of exhaustion, like he hadn't been sleepy in over a day. Though, he may have just been stuck between the conversation as Sei was the one to answer, acting scholarly.
“Yes. Generations of selective breeding apparently. The only food crop to survive the calamity so long ago. They have numerous properties not unlike those of the Elixir Grass. But mostly, they just taste nice.”
My attention flickered at his words. Just a brief thought of Luna’s species, but I didn’t feel the need to go deeper into it at the moment. Since we were going into a knowledge exchange—I’m sure anything that would be relevant would be exposed.
The men took their own places at the table, Rojin breathing a sigh of relief as he sat down, placing down a thin bag, which when unraveled, revealed a bounty of a breakfast. Glistening strips of fatty meat with an extra large helping of eggs. Multiple bags of multiple dishes suspended in that same dome of gel.
None of us sat by politely, Mei being the first to start filling the small plates and bowls, keenly avoiding dishes that contained off-colored vegetables and lacked meat. An act, which was quickly supplemented by Synthia to her amused grumbles.
Small pleasantries were exchanged occasionally, but my focus was mostly on the food. Something that would soon be gone from my diet. Eventually, the conversation shifted into plans.
“You should go to the lab today,” Sei said, looking at Synthia. “Tell them you're leaving tonight.”
Her expression changed to something troubled, hesitant.
“Rojin, you go with her,” he commanded. “If they have a problem, just remind them who’s in charge.”
The young man nodded, his tired expression becoming determined. “I’m sure they wouldn’t be so rude considering all that you’ve given them,” he reassured Synthia.
The food dwindled down and the bowls and plates emptied over time. Only the quiet munches of the final morsels faintly accompanying a wind chime from somewhere in the garden.
Mei suddenly stood up, brushing off her clothes—a one piece dress like a robe, but the texture more delicate like silk. The color matched her eyes, a striking violet, and as I wondered if she was bringing that kind of outfit to a tropical island, she informed her father of our outing.
“We're going to town.”
She waited there, expectantly.
Since I finished too, I stood, not sure why she was widening her eyes so sweetly at her father.
But the man let out a defeated sigh, pulling something from with his robes. An onyx colored tablet, about as thick as his thumb, and just small enough to fit in his daughter's hand neatly.
“Today’s special. Don’t think it’ll be a regular occurrence.”
Mei ran up, gave Sei a hug, then a kiss on the cheek. Of course, taking the time to slip the thick card into the sleeve of her dress. “Thank you.”
It was still strange to me. The only child I’d really been exposed to was Velea, and she had moments that showed her age, but compared to Mei, Vel was much older it seemed… At least in moments like these.
Griffith stood the next moment, but his burly arm was grabbed by the master of the house.
“I can guarantee their safety. Within that town, nothing will happen. I swear it.”
Griffith hesitated at the words, but saw the gaze in Sei’s eyes, sitting down again.
“Besides,” Sei continued. “We have so much to discuss. It’s been so long since I’ve received such a bounty of information. We must continue our exchange."
Time wasn’t wasted on pointless goodbyes as Mei wordlessly tugged on my arm, pulling me away through the door and past the hallways, arriving as a suspicious small room. With a door that opened automatically. With a panel.
A gate.
With a grumble of my own, the two of us walked in, and Mei tapped on the device, guiding us to our destination. The trip wasn’t so bad, but at this point my dislike was settled and certain.
But the moment the doors opened again, tension releasing from my shoulders, I was stunned.
Before I thought it was odd that I had hardly seen anyone, but now?
A wall of sound hit me. Chatter, laughter, sharp cries of children, and the chaotic clatter of footsteps on stone. The sun was bright, shining from above, illuminating rows of color lining the walk ways.
Shops stretched in both directions, some with glass walls, others enclosed in metal or stone. Logos, names, and the like displayed above them. Some owners of stalls outside haggled with customers, scanning purchases after pretending to be defeated in a hard fought battle, only to smile slyly as the purchaser walked away.
Children dashed passed, some with sweets, chased by tired or equally excited parents.
A cluster of teens slightly older than Mei tucked themselves in a corner, chatting with each other causally, laughing at their own jokes.
It was loud. Bright. And alive.
“This is inane,” I muttered.
Mei giggled and nudged me forward. “We only have a day, so let’s not waste any time.”
I took another step, trying to make sense of the eerily familiar environment.
A market. A shopping district.
A mall.